I was hooked from the prologue!

The author swaps between present day and 1952. Both perspectives offer unique additions to the house’s story and how events in the house affected the people around it. The further you get into the book, the more the different pieces come together to create a creepy paranormal tale.

I loved the way the author wrote the story. Even though it was written in third person, you still felt like you were there in the moment with each character.

The Haunting on West 10th Street is a really easy read. It has plenty of twists and turns to keep you entertained without overwhelming you with detail. I’m excited to see where Maria’s future cases take her!

My only complaints are the word choice (the writer appears to be from the UK while the story is set in New York) and quite a few typos near the end. Neither of these issues were major enough to affect my overall thoughts on the book.

This story is about two brutal ritualistic murders 70 years apart with identical MOs and Detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie who are trying to solve the case which appears to involve devil worship and human sacrifice in attempt to a demon. This is a great mix between murder mystery and paranormal genres.

This is told through dual timelines, past and present, and from different character points of view but it is easy to follow.


Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in return for my voluntary and honest review.

-not gonna lie, the first fifty pages or so made me disappointed because it seemed like your same ol' mystery thriller. now nothing's wrong with that but i did sign up for this because it was shelved under horror.
-on top of that, i had pretty low to no expectations. like i wasn't expecting any off the floor horror or any gory horror just some eerie vibes and a "i know there's someone and i know its not human" type of horror.
-despite its dissatisfying start, it redeemed itself quite well and eventually i ended up loving it. it had everything i love in a horror book.
-you get this dual timeline of decades apart. an old house with a shady past, a cult-like mystery. satan worship, gore and pentagrams and all that crap.
-the premise was perfect so were the characters. pretty much everyone was likable especially missy and maria.
-also, is it just me or there was something "more than friends" going on with em's feelings about mae? regardless, may she rest in peace. i liked her actually.
-i actually loved this book so much so that i was hoping there'd be more in the series *fingers crossed*

This book definitely held my interest but I felt like it could have used more detail to bulk up the plot. Some of the vocabulary was odd too…. Sometimes sounded more like British people speaking rather than New Yorkers. Overall though I enjoyed it and would read the next in the series. Happy to have read my first ARC from NetGalley!

A symphony of the supernatural that will resonate deep within your soul…..

Book Information

“The Haunting on West 10th Street” by Helen Phifer is a 280-page supernational crime thriller first published on April 26, 2018, and scheduled for rerelease on October 19, 2023. Thank you to Storm Publishing for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.

Summary

Detective Maria Miller of the NYPD is a staunch advocate for cold, hard facts. However, when a grisly murder unfolds in a Greenwich Village brownstone with eerie ties to the supernatural, she's determined to uncover a rational explanation before the killer strikes again. Unbeknownst to her, this heinous crime has a chilling history, and Miller must discern whether it's the same culprit, a copycat, or something more sinister.

My Thoughts

Helen Phifer's "The Haunting on West 10th Street" is an excellent book that skillfully combines elements of horror, the supernatural, romance, murder, thriller, and detective genres. Phifer's writing is both well-crafted and accessible, making it an easy and quick read. With its irresistible blend of supernatural intrigue and murder mystery, this book is the dark and delicious secret you'll want to share with everyone.

The story unfolds with a dual timeline, alternating between the past and the present, effectively showing how a haunting that began in the past continues to affect the present. This narrative structure adds depth and intrigue to the plot, keeping readers engaged.

One of the standout features of the book is the well-developed characters who populate its pages. They are relatable and add depth to the story, making it easy for readers to connect with them.

Phifer masterfully weaves suspense and mystery throughout the narrative, keeping readers guessing with plenty of red herrings. While there are definite horror aspects to the book, it leans more towards being a paranormal thriller than outright horror. The gruesome murders and the ominous presence she creates contribute to the overall creepiness and enjoyment of the story. Phifer's storytelling prowess shines as she conjures a hauntingly vivid world where the line between the living and the dead blurs into a captivating nightmare.

The book strikes a great balance between detective and supernatural elements, offering a unique mix that keeps the reader engaged. It's a suspenseful read that also manages to incorporate moments of humor, making it a well-rounded experience.

One minor criticism lies in the handling of some character reveals. Some reveals later in the story may leave readers flipping back through the pages to recall their significance. It would have been preferable for characters with a major role in the story to receive more backstory and development.

Recommendation

"The Haunting on West 10th Street" is an excellent, well-told, and well-delivered creepy story that will keep you enthralled. While it may not be the type of book that will have you losing sleep or jumping at shadows, it excels as a paranormal thriller, offering a satisfying blend of suspense, mystery, and the supernatural. Helen Phifer's talent for creating an eerie atmosphere and her skillful storytelling make this book a great read for fans of the genre.

Rating

4 Haunting Stars

It was just ok for me I'm not really into detective thriller novels. This book was not typical what I would pick up and read so maybe that's why it just didn't do it for me but it was different and I enjoy reading something I don't typically read so I would recommend it for that reason because you never know you could really enjoy it. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc copy

This read started off really strong for me and I got sucked up into the storyline but around the 40% mark my interest dwindled and there wasn’t anything that held it after that.

I enjoyed the horrific scenes but that’s about it.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC

Omg what can I say, I love this author and I absolutely love this new series. Horrific crimes liberally sprinkled with the supernatural. I devoured this book in one sitting which I usually do when reading this author's work. Atmospheric, I had goosebumps on my goosebumps and so good. Wonderful characters and a storyline that left me speechless. Cancel everything and tuck into this fantastic, must read crime thriller and so much more. A well deserved five stars. Can I have the next book now Please!!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the Arc in return for an honest review.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Storm Publishing for an ARC copy of this book.

I loved this book! Helen Phifer is a new author to me and I really enjoyed her style. I chose this book because of the paranormal aspect of the story. Detectives Maria and Frankie investigate a cold case and discover much more than they ever believed in. Their characters were well-developed and engaging. The other characters were likable also. The story had a mix of scary, detective work, friendship, and romance. It was a light, quick read that left me wanting more.

A different type of mystery. It has supernatural elements and was another book that kept me up well into the night! The characters were really easy to care about (apart from the obvious few) and I got a bit worried towards the end. I'm really hoping for another book in this series as it's different to the usual investigations.

I found this book really different from other mystery books that Phifer has written. This book leans towards the supernatural genre with a twist of mystery in it but I still really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed, likeable and believable. This book was written in a dual timeline, the past (1952) and present (2023) murders. Phifer did a great job melding the two timelines until they connected at the end of the story. We meet NYPD detective Maria Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy; they have been called to a gruesome murder. A young lady’s head, arms and legs have been sawed off her torso. During their investigation they have been told of another murder exactly 40 years ago at the same house and same MO. Maria and Frankie begin to investigate both murders and find that something unnatural and evil is linked to this house. Pick up a copy of this book and find out what evil is lurking in the house and will Maria and Frankie solve these murders. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. This book was FANTASTIC. I finished it in about 2 days because I simply couldn’t put it down, I needed to know what happened next!

This was the perfect spooky mystery that kept me up all night. I cannot wait to read more books from this author!

I highly recommend reading this one.

Skeptical NYPD Homicide Detective Maria Miller only believes in cold hard facts. But a gruesome murder at Greenwich Village brownstone seems to point straight to a paranormal source. Determined to unearth a rational explanation, she vows to find the culprit before he strikes again. But Maria is about to learn that this atrocious crime is far from unique. An identical slaughter rocked the same house decades ago, and Miller must determine if it's the same culprit, a copycat, or something much darker. When Miller becomes the killer's next target, will her stubborn cynicism send her to the other side?

This book was first published April 26th, 2018.

This book was different to all the other book I've read by the author. I really liked the two main characters, Frankie and Maria. The story has a dual timeline - the past when an identical slaughter took place in the house, and the present day. The characters are well-developed. This is a suspenseful read that had some humour to it. This is a quick read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #StormPublishing and the author #HelenPhifer for my ARC of #TheHauntingOnWest19thStreet in exchange for an honest review.

This supernatural detective novel provided an easy and enjoyable read. NYC Detectives Maria and Frankie, facing their own personal life issues, are called into help revisit a cold case from three years ago where a body, minus the head was found in a room with satanic materials all around. It turns out this mirrors a crime from the 1950s and is too much of a coincidence to happen again in the exact same room.
The story flips from present day to the 1950s where the original murder took place and sets the scene for what is happening in the present.
A light read that will keep you entertained and turning those pages. There is also the potential for more from Maria and Frankie and hope to read more in the future.

This book was absolutely fantastic, I loved everything about it. I sat and read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down, it was a real page turner. Love Helen’s writing, I’m a big fan and this most definitely didn’t disappoint. Worthy of five stars it was amazing!

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and storm publishing and the fantastic author Helen phifer for an early copy of her book.

I enjoy reading her crime reads, im not really into many paranormal reads as I'm more into crime books. Shes a fantastic author so gave this book a read..Detective Maire Miller and her partner Frankie Conroy on a murder case this happened years ago three years ago is it the same killer or is there sinister paranormal creepy things happening...my rating is 3.5 rounded to four as still prefer her crime books..looking forward to reading more of her books.


This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon uk.

NYPD homicide detectives Maria Miller and Frank Conroy visit a house in West 10th Street and attend the worse case they have ever visited. There is an eerie feeling in the room. They never found the killer. Three years on there boss asks them to go over the cold case and find new evidence to solve the case. But nothing is straightforward and sinister things start to happen, which leaves Maria in danger.
I am a big fan of Helen Phifer’s work and although slightly different than her previous novels. The Haunting on 10th West Street is another excellent novel from the author.
Yet again, I am hooked from this story, which goes back and forth in time. I find it has a great mix of a Detective and Supernatural element and the characters of Frankie and Maria. Especially Maria, who is not frightened of anything and will not let anything get in her way. In parts it also has an eerie creepy feel. I really enjoyed this, and I hope there is more to come with Frankie and Maria. 5 stars from me.

This had a promising premise but between the dialogue and the writing itself, I couldn't get far enough into the book for the story to take hold of me. I don't want to say that it felt simplistic or amateurish because that sounds unkind, so I will just say that the language and the writing felt very "plain," to the point where it felt like someone was just lackadaisically relaying a string of events to me. Sure, that's basically what storytelling is, but I want at least the minor embellishments that come with putting those strings of events into the bound and printed material of a book. That's a really low bar, but even that would have at least gotten me to finish the first chapter.

Okay I am so confused. Definitely mixed feelings in regards to this book, but let me start off by saying WHY did I not find out who the mystery maniac was? Major plot holes in my opinion throughout the entire book. While I loved the flash back and flash forward, I just didn’t understand why the author made such a story line about Maria’s love interests, the killer, and the women of the house on 10th and we really got no resolution to any of them. Also, I will have to research this a little later, but the author is clearly British with the way they portray the characters. Not that it was a huge turn off of the book, but I don’t think anyone living in NYC since birth is saying things like ‘I fancy a cup of tea’. I don’t know if I would pick up another book with Maria Miller at the forefront.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of this book.

I was looking forward to reading a horror story to start my fall reading. While I enjoyed the premise, the characters and the two different timelines, there were some things that fell short that I just couldn’t get past. It was very evident that the author is not American. I could have gotten past the different spelling of favourite as opposed to the American favorite, but I could not get past the overuse of the word whilst. No New Yorker would use “whilst” that frequently let alone a NYC cop. Nor would a New Yorker say that the “queue” was too long. Or they “fancy” a drink. It might seem like I’m nitpicking, but it was these details that took me completely out of the story. It was a distraction and the words and phrases the author chose were out of place. So even though I did like the premise the book just really fell short for me.